The following is a slightly edited comment that I recently left on a wonderful post by Mitch Teemley, entitled The Waiter from Hell? I will paste the link to Mitch’s post at the bottom of this page.
Sunday before last, my husband, his daughter, and I went out for lunch after church. Our waiter was very inept. Not rude and irritable like the bad waiter in Mitch Teemley’s story, our waiter at least had a sweet and humble disposition. But he was doing everything all wrong and backwards, in addition to moving very slowly.
My stepdaughter, whom I love like my own daughter, became noticeably irritable with the waiter. An insulin dependent diabetic, her sugar was dropping while we waited for well over an hour and a half for our food. The waiter didn’t even bring out our drinks or salads before the meal. My stepdaughter used to be a waitress and then a restaurant manager, so she knows how it’s supposed to be done.
After our meal, I felt something tugging at my heart, telling me to walk over to the waiter as he was on his way back to the kitchen with another table’s order. I told him that I had been a waitress for a brief time many years ago and that I was all thumbs at first, but with time I got better. I also told him that my husband had put a good tip for him on our card, to encourage him.
He looked like he wanted to cry. “I’m sorry I made that other lady at your table so mad,” he said. (My stepdaughter had complained to the manager.) “Yes, I am new on this job. I was working as a custodian over at the elementary school for the past four and a half years. But then my son died, and it hurt too much to be around the other children…”
Our waiter from hell was going through hell. And in my opinion, it doesn’t get much more hellish than that.
I explained that my stepdaughter was so irritable because she is a newly diagnosed, insulin dependent diabetic, and her blood sugar was dropping as we waited for the food. “She really needs to eat breakfast before going to church,” I said. And I told him how very sorry I am about the loss of his son, and said I will be praying for him.
I really do believe that most people, most of the time, are doing the best they can with what they have. Love is the number one commandment. Without the spirit of God’s agape love, we have nothing.
It only took me about 60 years to start figuring this stuff out. 😊
Please visit Mitch Teemley’s post, his story is even more mind blowing!
https://mitchteemley.com/2019/07/15/the-waiter-from-hell-2/
I’m a slow learner, too. 🙂 We all have bad days and we need to remember that. Blessings, Linda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so true about bad days happening to everyone. Blessings to you, too.
LikeLike
Wonderful story! There’s a reason we’r told to love unconditionally.
I told the story from the other side recently. (“That Passenger,” posted June 7)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I remember reading that. I will look it up though, just in case.
LikeLike
Ah ha, as soon as I hit “send” on my reply to your comment, I remembered. You were flying out to see your father, who was on his death bed. You were bringing a very valuable musical instrument, I think a guitar, so you could play music for your father. And the flight attendant wanted you to check it, but you didn’t have a case and you knew it would get damaged. Yes. I’m so glad they were able to store it safely in the bin with the pillows!
Losing a parent is so hard, regardless of your history with that parent. I know, I have been there. My heart goes out to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good memory! (I had a case, but it was a flimsy one.) The point is, I doubt anyone wakes up in the morning saying “I think I’ll be a jerk today.” So, when in doubt, cut them some slack.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree with that! When in doubt, give people the benefit of the doubt. 💘
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless you for taking the time to show this person love…………I know you changed his life!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I really can’t take the credit, I felt like God was almost pushing me to do it. Anyway, I could tell just by looking at his face that something was wrong. Whew. What he told me broke my heart.
LikeLike
Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. For some unfathomable reason, your kind comment ended up in my spam folder, along with a lot of other comments that didn’t belong there. I’m sorry I didn’t see this sooner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s ok Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘It only took me about 60 years to start figuring this stuff out’.
excellent story.
I so like how forgiving you were.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Awww. Happy tears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Balm for my soul. Thank you so much. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
💘💘💘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very well said Linda, God bless you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Tricia. God is so good! Blessings to you, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was a really good post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
For some unfathomable reason, your kind comment ended up in my spam folder, along with a lot of other comments that didn’t belong there. I’m sorry I didn’t see this sooner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s ok I’m in there a lot here lately😢 That spam filter really don’t like me! 🤷♀️ I’m glad you rescued me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, when someone is asking me to send them $500 in order to claim a multi-million dollar inheritance from some people I’ve never heard of, living in a country I’ve never heard of, then yes, those comments belong in spam. But not sweet comments like yours! I’m glad I rescued you, too. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
This tickled me! My husband got one of those calls to put $500 on a visa and send to them, then they would send him a big prize!…he played along for a few minutes and then let them know the charade was up. They hung up on him lol! I sure wish someone would let Akismet know that I’m not a scammer or something! 🐇🎩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it amazing what can happen when we act on those nudges from the Holy Spirit? Why is it so hard to remember that other people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got when I look out at the world wishing so very much that someone, anyone, would realize that it’s amazing that I’m functioning as well as I am. Great story to share!
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Why is it so hard to remember that other people are doing the best they can with what they’ve got when I look out at the world wishing so very much that someone, anyone, would realize that it’s amazing that I’m functioning as well as I am.” — that made me chuckle, because it’s so true! Thanks for sharing that.
LikeLike
Took me many years to be aware of this. We never know. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏻🙏🏻💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on I ONCE WAS LOST.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the reblog! 💘
LikeLike
Beautiful story… at ‘our’ age, it’s good to have learned these things. Love is a gift we give, even ‘before’ others deserve it…as God did and continually does with us. I’ve learned to ask servers how their day is going…and often tell them we’re going to pray and bless our meal and then ask ‘How can we pray for you?’ They often offer specific requests, and no one has refused prayer yet. We all need it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this beautiful comment. For some unfathomable reason, your comment ended up in my spam folder, along with a lot of other comments that did not belong there. I’m sorry I didn’t see this sooner.
God bless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries… it all worked out! Blessings, Linda! 💕✝️
LikeLiked by 1 person
This brought me to tears. I often tell people to try not to judge others based on one minute of time spent with them, but think of their entire life. One also never knows what they are secretly dealing with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right. ((HUG))
LikeLike
WOW, Brilliant post. I have a long ways to go yet, but God’s timetable always makes room for us. By the way, I forgot to say “thank you” to your husband for his service in Viet Nam. Years ago, as a volunteer for Point Man Ministries, I used to write thank you notes anonymously to veterans–it felt good to be a blessing, even in a small way. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thank you! 💘💘💘
LikeLike
You’re sincerely welcome ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person